Interview with Līva Stūrmane on the iCoDaCo digital platform
Photo by Kristaps Lapiks
One of the main parts of the iCoDaCo 2024-2027 project is the creation of the world's first open-source digital platform with multimedia content created within the artistic research. Creativity Lab (Latvia) is in charge of its development. We asked Līva Stūrmane, the co-founder and director of Creativity Lab, about the process and her visions of the platform.
Creativity Lab is in charge of the platform development. How do you perceive its purpose for the dance community?
Since the beginning of the project, the partnership has been working on developing a prototype for the iCoDaCo digital platform — an innovative space designed to support knowledge sharing, community building, and creative collaboration in the field of contemporary dance.
The platform is envisioned as a living hub where artists, educators, and dance enthusiasts can connect, learn, and exchange ideas. Its development follows a design thinking approach, an open innovation process that brings together students, experts, and creative practitioners to co-create meaningful solutions and explore new possibilities for the dance community.
What is the current state of the development?
So far, the team has achieved significant progress in shaping the conceptual and technical foundations of the platform. The process began with mapping out user profiles and assessing the needs of diverse audiences, including teenage dance enthusiasts, rural educators, and digital professionals. This user research helped ensure that the platform responds to the real experiences and challenges faced by different groups within the dance ecosystem.
You are working in close cooperation with dance practitioners, who take part in hackathons organized by Creative Lab. What is the purpose of these sessions?
Through a series of design challenges and exploratory scenarios, participants imagined “what if” situations that encouraged creative thinking and reimagined how technology can support artistic collaboration and learning. These sessions provided valuable input for the creation of the initial conceptual and technical prototype, establishing the groundwork for an inclusive and dynamic digital space that will serve the European dance community.
The prototype has already produced a detailed conceptual framework for the platform’s structure and features, along with user journey maps and future-use scenarios for artists, students, and the wider public. It has also generated valuable insights into issues of accessibility, inclusivity, and digital engagement — key considerations for building a platform that reflects the diverse and evolving nature of the dance field.
What happens with the platform after the iCoDaCo 2024-2027 finishes?
Looking ahead, the iCoDaCo platform is envisioned as a sustainable, user-driven ecosystem that fosters learning, reflection, and collaboration across borders. With the foundation now in place and new collaboration models emerging, 2026 is set to be a defining year for the project. A series of upcoming hackathons will continue to refine and test the prototype, bringing us closer to the launch of an inspiring online space that empowers the dance community to connect, create, and grow together.
Stay tuned — the dance of ideas has only just begun.